The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: The Twins Head Out to Sea for a New Series

by Trevor Kimball, August 18, 2008

If you’re a fan of the popular Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, you’ll be sad to learn that the series is coming to a close after 88 episodes on September 26th. Not to worry though, troublesome twins Zack and Cody Martin are headed straight to a second series — on the high seas.

Disney has announced that a spin-off series called The Suite Life on Deck will debut on September 26th, immediately following the series finale of Zack and Cody. Dylan and Cole Sprouse will return as the Martin twins and will be joined by co-star Brenda Song (as hotel heiress London Tipton) at Seven Seas High — a semester-at-sea educational program aboard the SS Tipton, the cruise ship owned by London’s father.

Phil Lewis will return as Mr. Moseby, whose role switches from hotel manager to cruise ship manager and chaperon. The Martin twins’ mother, Carey (Kim Rhodes), will continue as a lounge singer at the hotel. Brainy hotel cashier Maddie (Ashley Tisdale) won’t be a regular character on the new series either but, both actresses will likely make guest appearances on the new show.

The Suite Life on Deck will introduce a few new characters into the mix. Bailey Grant (Debby Ryan), a small-town Kansas girl who shares a cabin with London, and Woody (Matthew Scott Timmons), a messy boy who befriends the twins and shares their penchant for mischief.

The Suite Life on Deck skipped the pilot process and went directly into series production. An earlier spin-off, Arwin!, wasn’t so lucky and never became a regular show.

Disney has committed to one season of The Suite Life on Deck thus far but if the show becomes as popular as the first series, it’s a safe bet that the twins will be causing mayhem at sea for quite some time. Stay tuned!